10.4x38mmR aka 41 Swiss loads

[Josh G]

Anyone out there have a good load for the 41 Swiss?? Just bought a m78 Vetterli and looking for some load data. I found a few online I'm going to try but wanted to know if anyone here has a good load that works for them. Thank you!!

 

[Firpo]

Josh am I way off here? According to COTW that cartridge and rifle were discontinued in 1889 making your rifle designed for use with black powder and not modern smokeless powders. Loading BP isn’t really any more difficult than anything else. Stuff in enough FF powder to get you a little, say maybe 1/16” of compression, drop in an over-powder card and top it off with a cast bullet. Problem comes if you’re buying cast bullets and not casting your own. If buying them they’ll most certainly have a petroleum based lube which will need to be removed and replaced with a BP lube.
Wish I could be more help but there’s nothing on the subject in any of my manuals.

 

[swampratt]

I read it is a rim fire and needs converted and there is info out there for that.
Lots of info to be found on loads also.
Discontinued powders of course .

Anyone shooting .41 swiss?

I have a Swiss Vetterli I load for with smokeless. It was originally used with BP cartridges. But they went to smokeless in the 1890s. It is much cleaner to shoot for sure. The safest powder to use is IMR4759, but that has been discontinued. So i will buy any excess i can find. Thanks Mike

www.modernmuzzleloader.com

 

[Josh G]

@Firpo No, you're not off. It has been out of service for a long while and was designed for black. I may load up some black cause like you said, it's not hard at all and the puff of smoke just does something for a fellow. However, mainly wanting to go smokeless. As long as it stays within black powder pressures, it won't hurt the rifle at all. Remington/UMC was the last to load it in the states, I believe, in the 30's and used smokeless.

 

[Josh G]

@swampratt Correct. I'm little nervous to convert but it's only a hole and from what I've read the bolts are a softer steel so easy to drill. Tiny drills always make me nervous for some reason. Not as bad as #1 taps though.

I found lots of guys using 2400 and unique but it's out of stock at midway . Did read a post of a guy using imr 3031 with good results.